Taking an aggressive stand, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday filed a criminal defamation case against senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal and his two sons Anurag Thakur and Arun Dhumal for launching what he called malicious tirade against him.The criminal defamation suits were personally filed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Jyotsna S Dhadwal at Shimla.
“Today I have filed three defamation cases under section 499 of IPC against Arun Jaitley, Prem Kumar Dhumal, Anurag Thakur and Arun Dhumal in the court of CJM, Shimla. The Dhumals and Arun Jaitley have unleashed a malicious campaign against me and my family members through media. Therefore, I was compelled to file defamation case,” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in a media briefing here.
“This was not the first time that I have been personally targeted by ex-CM Dhumal, he had always worked with political vendetta against me. In his first term, when Dhumal formed minority Government with support of Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), he tried to implicate me in a Sagar Katha case. I faced the trial and was exonerated by the court,” said Singh.
Singh said he assumed the office of Chief Minister after local court acquitted him of all charges. He also accused investigating officers of playing dubious role on behalf of BJP leaders and alleged that vital information were not only suppressed but false statements of witnesses were recorded to implicate him.
“Now again Dhumals and other BJP leaders are back to their old political tactics and are indulging in mud-slinging and malicious propaganda against me through the media,” said the Chief Minister. He said the chargesheet prepared against previous BJP Government was handed over to the State Vigilance Bureau for free and fair investigation.
Singh said that Dhumal family was getting panicky as chargesheet was being probed which contains serious charges of corruption and land scams against Prem Kumar Dhumal and his family members, former Ministers and others. “There is involvement of Prem Kumar Dhumal in various cases, including massive phone tapping of their political opponents, their own Ministers, officers and media persons,” said Singh. He coined the word Tapegate and said it was biggest scam done ever in country.
“Arun Jaitley and Dhumal have been raising insignificant personal issues relating to my income tax returns, loans in media since the time of assembly election in Himachal Pradesh in October-November 2012 with cheap political motive,” he said.
“A personal loan was taken by me and my wife from Vakamulla Chandra Shekhar, during July 2011 to November 2011, when there was BJP in the Government. The loan along with interest is being repaid through cheque in installation to the loaner,” said Singh. He said that Jaitley and Dhumals deliberately suppressed relevant facts in their Press conferences to suit their ulterior political motive. “They have made selective opportunist disclosures and tried to mislead the people by twisting and concealing vital facts,” said Singh.
“Dhumal and Jaitley have been harping on false, frivolous and fabricated allegations, if they think they can finish me with their flimsy and filthy accusations, they are living in a fancy world. I am not going to be cowed down by their threats and malicious propaganda. I firmly believe in the rule of law and truth and justice will prevail,” said Chief Minister refusing to take any question and hastily moving away with Cabinet Ministers for the Cabinet meet.